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Rotational Molding Process

The rotational molding process begins by filling a preheated hollow mould with polymer powder or resin. Inside the oven, the mould is slowly bi-axially rotated as the polymer melts and coats the inside of the mould. Timing is critical during this heating phase to prevent degradation or incomplete melting of the polymer. After reaching the desired melting level, the mould is removed from the oven and cooled, typically using air or water, to allow the polymer to solidify into the desired shape and shrink slightly for removal from the mould.

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Edgar Ibarra
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105 views5 pages

Rotational Molding Process

The rotational molding process begins by filling a preheated hollow mould with polymer powder or resin. Inside the oven, the mould is slowly bi-axially rotated as the polymer melts and coats the inside of the mould. Timing is critical during this heating phase to prevent degradation or incomplete melting of the polymer. After reaching the desired melting level, the mould is removed from the oven and cooled, typically using air or water, to allow the polymer to solidify into the desired shape and shrink slightly for removal from the mould.

Uploaded by

Edgar Ibarra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EDGAR I BARRA

DANI EL GMEZ
Rotational Molding Process
Preparing the Mould

The process begins with filling a hollow mould with a pre-determined


quantity of polymer powder or resin . This powder can be pre-
compounded to the desired color. More often than not the powdered
resin is polyethylene (PE) although other compounds such as polyinyl
chloride ( P!" ) andnylons can also be used. The oen is preheated by
conection# conduction# (or in some cases radiation) to temperature
ranges around $%% &' - (%% &' ()*% &" - +(% &")# depending on the
polymer used. ,hen the powder is loaded into the mould it is closed#
loc-ed# and loaded into the oen.
Heating and Fusion

.nside the oen the mould is bi-a/ially rotated (ie# rotated around two
a/es) as the polymer melts and coats the inside of the mould. The
rotation speed is slow# less than )% rotations0minute1 the process is not
centrifugal. 2uring this phase of the rotational moulding process
timing is critical. .f the mould spends too much time inside the oen
the polymer will degrade - this will reduce its impact strength. .f it
spends too little time inside the oen melting of the polymer will be
incomplete and it will not fully coalesce on the mould wall# creating
large bubbles in the item.
Cooling the Mould

3fter the melting has been consolidated to the desired leel and the
timing is right# the mould is remoed from the oen and
cooled. "ooling of the mould is typically done with air (by fan)# water or
sometimes a combination of both. "ooling allows the polymer to
solidify to the desired shape and shrin- slightly so that it can then be
handled by the operator and remoed from the mould. The cooling
time can typically be measured in tens of minutes. .t is important that
the cooling rate be carefully measured because rapid cooling causes the
polymer to shrin- too fast and warps the part.

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